Maryana’s Reviews > A Room of One's Own > Status Update

It's never too late!

I've only managed one of her books (a struggle), so I'm still the answer to the age-old question, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Ken wrote: "I've only managed one of her books (a struggle), so I'm still the answer to the age-old question, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?""

Oh there's nothing to fear, Ken. Woolf is easy to read and such a wonderful writer. Greatest novelist of the 20th century by a long shot. Joyce be damned.

Can they maybe share that title, Ulysse? said she as casually as she could manage.
Glad to see you discovering this essay, Maryana. Now you'll be primed to recognize all the echoes from it in books written right into the 2020s.

Ulysse wrote: "It's never too late!"

I hope not. Thank you for cheering me on this reading journey!

Ken wrote: "I've only managed one of her books (a struggle), so I'm still the answer to the age-old question, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?""


Ken, it’s worth giving her a second chance or even a third chance :D and of course I would love to hear your thoughts on her writing. Woolf’s voice is truly distinctive - there is a strange feeling to her musings which I find very appealing - it’s both very ethereal and substantial. Although her writing resonated with me in the past, I feel I was a very naïve and inattentive reader, so I have been thinking of re-reading some of her works and reading those I haven’t read yet, like this essay and her earlier works.

In case Woolf’s writing still doesn’t work for you -
No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself. There are so many other writers who must be worth your time.

Fionnuala wrote: "Can they maybe share that title, Ulysse? said she as casually as she could manage.
Glad to see you discovering this essay, Maryana. Now you'll be primed to recognize all the echoes from it in books..."


Ulysse and Fionnuala, definitely one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, at least in the English language, and maybe one of the greatest writers ever in my personal canon, although my literary knowledge is quite limited.

Ulysse, glad you mention Joyce as I’m also looking forward to reading his Ulysses:) I don’t feel ready though, I’d like to read some more Shakespeare and Homer perhaps - a Japanese word 身につける comes to mind which literally translates as “to put on” but it also means to acquire, to learn or to gain something - maybe that’s what I need to do. At the same time, I’m slightly afraid this build-up might kill all the enjoyment, so let’s see.

So true, Fionnuala, Woolf was so right and prophetic in this essay. She truly deserves to be read again and again!

Fionnuala wrote: "Can they maybe share that title, Ulysse? said she as casually as she could manage."

We can give him best 20th century Irish novelist, if that makes you feel better, Fionnuala ;-)

Maryana wrote: "Ulysse, glad you mention Joyce as I’m also looking forward to reading his Ulysses:) I don’t feel ready though"

I don't know if it's possible to be ready for Ulysses, I certainly wasn't when I read it 16 years ago, but I devoted a month of my life to it and I'm so glad I did, there's nothing like it.

Virginia Woolf is still the best though ;-)

Ulysse wrote: I don't know if it's possible to be ready for Ulysses, I certainly wasn't "

Sounds like a wonderful reading experience and that’s so true just like with many things in life. Although maybe it’s not just a question of feeling ready, but needing a special call or something. But thanks, I’ll try to not overthink :D

Virginia Woolf is still the best though ;-)

Hear, hear!